We sing a-cappella works which are fairly short and from a range of styles including early polyphony (Tallis, Byrd, etc), modern (20th & 21st Century) classical including new works and some jazz, pop & folk arrangements. Concert programmes tend to be themed.
We tend not to sing "mainstream" classical or larger works.
We started rehearsals for our new programme DREAMSCAPES on 9th January 2024 in Leitholm Village Hall. The programme includes several settings of the poems of Christina Rossetti, including COME TO ME by Ivo Antognini and REST by Ralph Vaughan Williams. It also incudes SLEEP by Eric Whitacre, TE LUCIS ANTI TERMINUM by Thomas Tallis and arrangements of Billy Joel and Everly Brothers numbers.
Once a piece is in the repertoire it may have a single or multiple performances. Concerts are frequent - whilst viewed as opportunities to develop the interpretation, performance is, of course, a great motivator! Members commit to homework.
Singing With Us
Rehearsals are held in Leitholm Village Hall in the village of Leitholm in the Scottish Borders on Tuesday evenings from 7:30-9:30 pm. We don't rehearse in the last couple of weeks in December and usually take July and August off.
MEMBERSHIP
Full Membership
- Our current establishment is 32 Full Members, divided into eight sections - 1st & 2nd Sopranos, 1st & 2nd Altos, 1st & 2nd Tenors and 1st & 2nd Basses.
- Is open to successfully auditioned singers who are able to commit to weekly rehearsals and the majority of concerts.
- Periodically Full Membership vacancies arise and are filled by an informal audition - singers are expected to be able to hold a line and blend.
- We need the ability to sing in tune, but we don't demand trained voices.
- Reading music is a requirement, but singing accurately at first sight is not essential.
Guest Choristers
- Competent choral singers - music readers with the ability to blend - who would like to sing with us but cannot commit to full membership, but can make themselves available for concert rehearsals & performances by invitation, and other rehearsals as appropriate.
- Guest singers are used as deputies for full members.
Apprentices
- Our apprenticeship scheme is available, by invitation from the Director, to inexperienced singers who join us for weekly Tuesday evening rehearsals to develop their skills and confidence in a friendly but challenging environment and with the additional support of a mentor from within their own section.
- Apprentices are not usually invited to sing in concerts.
- Whilst some apprentices have progressed to full or guest members (subject to vacancy availability and audition) that is not the aim of the scheme. Apprentices may well take their developing skills to other choirs or musical activities.
- Apprenticeships, when offered, are usually available for six months and the most suitable time to begin is in January.
LEITHOLM VILLAGE HALL
Main Street, Leitholm. TD12 4JH
6 miles north of Coldstream A697/B6461
7 miles north east of Kelso on the B6461
Current Singing Vacancies (May 2023):
We would be delighted to hear from anyone who is
interested in singing with us in any section and we
still have Full Member vacancies in the Basses,
Guest Members in Tenor & Bass sections and
Apprentices in all sections.
Nothing ventured - nothing gained: talk to John!
ALL ENQUIRIES TO THE DIRECTOR:
John Stone
director@andantechamberchoir.com
"What is it about Andante that seems so good for me??
I struggle with the sight reading and I'm sure make wrong notes noises...... but
always come home feeling better!" a 1st soprano in November 2021
